Got to say, I watched it live years ago, and it blew my mind then. Nothing has changed in all this time, and if anything, this sets the standard for this type of dance even all these year slater. There was just a chemistry there that was off the chart, and Rachel was the pure embodiment of sensuality.
Incredible. The execution of steps, kicks and foot discipline is so precise and in a completely different league than the Argentine Tango dances from this year's contestants.
Well, it's a bit easier when you're actually dancing with an AT specialist who understands the footwork (as I understand it, the flicks are not a random style thing, but a graceful way of moving your leg out of the way of where your partner's foot is going). Most of the pros know nothing about AT and rely on specialists to come in, sometimes having as little as a couple of hours with them to choreograph and train.
Few performances from the earlier days of Strictly Come Dancing UK always make me come back to some performances for the sheer brilliance and the awe of perfection by the dancing couple (for those unaware of the celebrity, it's next to impossible to figure the celebrity out by watching those performances). Here are few of my all time fav's: 1. Argentine Tango - By far Rachel and Vincent on When doves cry 2. Jill and Darren Jive from Season 2 3. Karen and Mark's Salsa on Feelin hot hot hot 4. Ian and Zoe Braithwaite's Quickstep (and Ballroom Tango , though not perfectly executed but brilliantly choreographed) These performances stand out as getting a celebrity to a level of perfection in extremely hard technical dances in a week's time is not less than miraculous.
The technique's perfection here is just insane. I don't like Rachel that much but if one routine should be billed as THE best Argentine Tango Strictly has ever seen, it must be this one. Mark? Ricky? Or the newer ones like Caroline or Simon? They don't even have half the perfection of the technique that Rachel possessed here, and to top it off this is one atmospheric performance. Truly divine.
I remember at the time Flavia couldn't believe how difficult Vincent had made this routine. There has not been an AT before or since for kicks flicks and flare (Sorry Mark Ram didn't come close)
+Murdos Mum yup I remember that too, and I absolutely agree, Ramps might be my top ten favourite celebs on Strictly of all time but even I'm still amazed that his AT was regarded as "the" best ever by some. It was fantastic, sure, but he mostly succeeded in creating a captivating performance. Technique and overall dancing-wise, Rachel trumped over him any time, and like I said I don't even like her much. It's hard to judge a male dancer vs female in a dance like the AT where the women got to do more, but truth to be told he mostly just walked around and be Karen's frame - it was the overall aura that they really succeeded in making. Rachel got all that and even more. Behind this I would say Ricky has the next most impressive AT I've ever seen on Strictly, followed by maybe Kara. I also really love Alesha's, hers was such an underrated gem (that end pose was so erotic that the Strictly nowadays would probably flipped if they saw such thing)
I personally would say the men typically own this dance. Mark, Ricky, Harry, Jason and Simon all excelled. My favourite was Jason's. The dramatisation of the male figure in an AT is far harder, so sorry i don't agree with you that this is THE Argentine of them all
I’m not sure why I didn’t want her to win at the time; I knew she was the best at the time. I guess like all other Brits I’m programmed to root for the underdog and she was clearly too talented to be the underdog. This is hands down one of the best Argentine Tangos I’m Strictly history.
BHarding10 Vincent and Flavia won the "Show Tango" category of a competition organised by the International Dance Organization in 2006. It is not well known outside of ballroom dancing circles and is not regarded by dancers of the Argentine Tango as a world class tango event. There is only one world championship that is well known by the tango community and that is the Mundial de Baile Tango which is held annually in Buenos Aires in August. Vincent and Flavia have never entered that competition. They are ballroom dancers who dance stage Argentine Tango, which is not the same thing as danced in Argentine Tango communities worldwide. Strictly promoted Vincent and Flavia as world champion tango dancers but they are not known in the AT community.
Mark Saunders Vincent and Flavia won the "Show Tango" section of a ballroom dance world championship. It is not the same thing as winning the Mundial de Tango in Buenos Aires. And the comment above is correct - Strictly ATs are not pure Argentine Tango. They don't even use tango music! They are stage performances that reference some AT steps.
